Originally, Lincoln Road was a mangrove forest, as was most of the original Miami Beach. Carl Fisher had the road cleared in 1912 and it eventually became the social center of Miami Beach. Fisher had a real estate office on Lincoln Road and over time, Lincoln Road featured retail shops like Saks Fifth Avenue and car dealerships such as Cadillac.
Morris Lapidus, a Miami Beach architect who built the Fountainbleu and Eden Roc hotels, was asked to redesign Lincoln Road in 1960. His design reflected Modern Architecture (MiMo) and featured fountains, gardens and an aphitheater. The Road was closed to cars and became one of the nation’s first pedestrian malls.
Today’s Lincoln Road features a multiplex cinema, a concert hall for the New World Symphony, restauramts, bars and boutique and national retailers. The Colony Theater and Art Center South Florida are all part of Lincoln Road. It is a top destination for tourists and locals alike.
